What is SS-A (RO) and SS - B (LA) PROFILE ?

What is SS-A (Ro)?

The test is also known as Anti-Ro, Anti-SSA, SSA Autoantibodies and Ro Autoantibodies. SS-A (Ro) blood test is used to measure the extractable nuclear antigen level present with antibodies in patients that have Lupus erythematosus (40-60%) and Sjogrens Syndrome (90%) and Rheumatoid arthritis. Sjogrens Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the lachrymal and salivary glands. The test is performed using the ELISA method. The disease is basically a connective tissue disorder.

Why is SS-A (Ro) done?

The test must be performed in patients suspected of Sjogrens Syndrome or LE. Patients with such health issues show signs of congenital heart blockage, vasculitis, nephritis, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, rheumatoid factor positivity, neonatal lupus, interstitial lung disease, palpable pupura/cutaneous vasculitis, subacute cutaneous lupus or photosensitivity.

Interpreting SS-A (Ro) results

A positive result for the SS-A (Ro) test gives a spotted appearance under ultraviolet immunofluorescence

What is SS - B (LA)?

Evaluating patients with signs and symptoms of a connective tissue disease in whom the test for antinuclear antibodies is positive Testing for SS-B/La antibodies is not useful in patients without demonstrable antinuclear antibodies

SS-B/La is an extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) composed of a 48-kD protein combined with RNA species. SS-B/La antibodies are found primarily in patients with Sjogren syndrome or lupus erythematosus (LE), where they occur with frequencies of approximately 60% and 15%, respectively. (1,2) SS-B/La antibodies occur only infrequently in the absence of SS-A/Ro antibodies.

SS-B/La is 1 of 4 autoantigens commonly referred to as extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). The other ENA are SS-A/Ro, RNP, and Sm (Smith). Each ENA is composed of 1 or more proteins associated with cytoplasmic or small nuclear RNA species (snRNA) ranging in size from 80 to 350 nucleotides. Antibodies to ENA are common in patients with connective tissue diseases (systemic rheumatic diseases) including LE, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren syndrome, scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), and polymyositis/dermatomyositis.